Our MP, Matthew Pennycook, had a long phone conversation last week with John Halsall, Network Rail’s Route Managing Director for the South East. 

Some of the summary below may raise technical questions which Matthew Pennycook is not able to answer at present so please don’t press for answers.  We hope the review will come up with a solution acceptable to all but, if it is to be thorough, I imagine that may take a while.

Matthew Pennycook has promised to keep interested parties updated as and when he has more information.  He will also continue to monitor the situation and press for whatever solution maintains the right of way to the benefit of local residents. 

Emily

Matthew Pennycook’s summary of his conversation with John Halsall is as follows:

“Aside from apologising profusely for various mistakes made in terms of communication, primarily the letter that went out to residents which appears to have been drafted by an engineer rather than anyone with a passing familiarity with public affairs, the following is what we touched on during the call:

·         The temporary postponement of the crossing closure should not be interpreted as a shelving of it, merely a temporary reprieve.

·         Network Rail are very clear they need to overhaul the outdated signalling system that is currently in place on this line as it has contributed to regular (in their world) freight derailments over recent years.

·         It is the installation of this new signalling system that would bring freight closer to the crossing point. This is what would present a danger to pedestrians not, he was at pains to argue, because they are likely to be hit by 5mph freight trains but because (he pointed out this has tragically happened elsewhere) there is a real risk on an open crossing that people try to cross underneath stationary freight and are injured/killed when trains start moving. If the number of freight is set to increase (see below) the risk in this regard increases too. 

·         Network Rail are also responding to a projected increase in freight along the line up from one or two per day to 20 or so. This is in itself a good thing in that it means less aggregate transported by road and therefore less air pollution but I pressed Halsall on whether it was a definitive increase or merely an aspiration on the part of the aggregates.

·         Network Rail are clear they have a legal right to undertake a closure if necessary.

·         Halsall told me the walk to Westcombe Park station was a comfortable five minutes from the PA2 polling district in Peninsula south of the Woolwich Road (Farmdale Road, Fairthorn Road, Gurdon Road etc). I set him straight with regard to the journey time on foot as well as pointing out what a dangerous, unpleasant walk it is compared to the existing crossing.

Where are we now?

·         Halsall agreed to send out regular updates to residents and his team will have oversight of what now goes out in terms of communication.

·         More importantly, he agreed to carry out a proper review pending a final decision. This review will determine not only whether the projected increase in freight is definitive or merely aspirational but also for him and his team to give further consideration to whether there are alternative measures that can be taken rather than installing the proposed new signalling system.

·         He mentioned the possibility of new, upgraded tracks (in order to prevent derailments) which may obviate the need for the new signalling system. In turn, I suggested (if the new signalling system proved to be a necessity) the installation of a small pedestrian walkway over the line. I strongly made the case for either of these options, or indeed any others that may be feasible, even at increased cost, if the alternative is an outright closure.

·         I’m going to meet Halsall in the coming weeks to go through things in even more detail."

Matthew Pennycook MP